The government will step up its efforts to build partnerships with nongovernmental organizations and other groups to meet emerging diplomatic challenges, according to the Foreign Ministry's annual foreign policy report released Tuesday.

The Diplomatic Blue Book for 2000, unveiled by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono at the day's Cabinet meeting, summarizes Japan's diplomatic activities in the past year and highlights its basic policy stances ahead.

Pointing to the significance Japan attaches to civic groups and NGOs, the report says, "The role played by civic groups and NGOs is becoming increasingly important in addressing challenges in the international community."

Citing last year's Seattle meeting of the World Trade Organization, during which a number of NGOs staged demonstrations against the promotion of international trade liberalization, the report says Japan has been "focusing on building a constructive partnership between the government and civic groups."

The 209-page blue book, the 43rd report of its kind, also pointed out that Japan considers it "highly possible" that North Korea has completed the deployment of medium-range Rodong missiles and believes it "likely" that Pyongyang is working to develop longer-range missiles.

"Uncertainties abound in North Korea," the report says. "Food and economic conditions remain grave, but there are no signs of rebel movements that could threaten the current regime.

"No changes are likely in the situation in which (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Il holds an overall grip on power."

Thus, in dealing with North Korea, the report calls for keeping its "balanced policy of dialogue and deterrence" intact, while simultaneously sustaining efforts to normalize ties with Pyongyang.

Japan and North Korea held high-level negotiations last month in Pyongyang on establishing diplomatic ties for the first time since the previous round collapsed in 1992. The two sides, however, only agreed to meet again later this month in Tokyo.

The report also underlines the need to tackle the "detrimental aspects of globalization," such as the so-called digital divide and intensifying global economic competition.

The digital divide is the gap between developed and less developed countries in their abilities to benefit from information technology.

The report also touches on "human security" problems, including infectious diseases, the environment, cross-border organized crime, poverty and terrorism.

Regarding measures to cope with such challenges, the report calls for international cooperation to set up "safety nets" to help the socially disadvantaged.

Meanwhile, the report emphasizes Japan's commitment to "playing an active role in increasing stability" in the Asia-Pacific region through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The report says Japan will continue to pursue political and security talks to build confidence in the region. Tokyo will also provide economic assistance, promote conflict prevention and cooperate with peacekeeping operations.

Japan will also keep up its efforts to strengthen international frameworks on weapons control, nonproliferation and disarmament, the report says.

On bilateral relations, the report stresses the importance of enhancing cooperation with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

On Russia, the report says recent improvements in Tokyo-Moscow relations are in line with a "historical trend" that are unlikely to be affected by changes in Russia's political leadership.